New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-06-01
UNDER THE WHITE ROSE.
BYQUEEN BEE.

Uncle Mervin and I stopped off a.
few days in Nashville on our return
from the Exposition. After visiting
all the points ofinterest in and around
the city, we concluded, to take .atrun
down to Murfresboro, and see for our
selves the place where the battle was
fought" the cemetery in which sixteen
thousand OF our brave soldiers are
quietly resting. Itell.you the simple
story Of one brave heart that rests
beneath a lovely white rose BUSH.
Uncle had remained silent for some
time; q far-away expression rested
upon his face, his thoughts evidently
running back over the days OF; his
youth, and on down to that terrible
day Of the battle that proved fatal
to the brave hearts underneath the sod
on which we stood.
Suddenly recalling himself, he said:
Helen, let us sit down on the grass
and will tell you @ story. A true
one fyou would like to hear it," I
most willingly expressed my desire to
listen. And he related this simple
story that touched me as never story
had done before.
This, as I have told you, is Cousin
Leonard's grave. Some way I have
always blamed myself for his body
resting here. One day in the early
spring, sat writing as usual in my
little office, for Twas that most :'put
upon OF all mortals, reporter for a
daily paper, but the daylight had
faded into twilight, making it impos-
slble for me to continue writing. I
put aside my papers, and crossing the
room, seated myself beside "Cousin
Len, us we always called him.
He had entered while was writing,
and for fear OF making me furious
as he said, he quietly laid down on the.
lounge to ':await nay pleasure" What
a grand man! AS he lay there helook-
ed like the model for a sleeping Her
cules.
His tall, powerful figure, his bold
handsome features, shaded by. crisp,
short curls OF dark brown, his long
black eyelashes lying now on his cheek,
were each and all perfectin their beau
ty. AS [ stood looking down upon
him and thinking a man like Cousin
Len is surely the noblest work of all
Gods creatures, 1 felt that even in
him there was something wanting, and
I 10,,ro1 f0,, CO hi rs u,
something that would throw the fire
OF action and resolution into this
grand and noble brain.
STOPPING down | shook him, saying
as [ did so, 'get up, old fellow, l am
ready now to entertain or be enter
tained."
"Well, old scratchaway, have you
actually finished that everlasting pen
scratching? Beautiful music to listen
to! Why ", don't you take life easy,
Merv?"
because I can't. It is all very
well for you, lord Of broad acres and
countless money bags besides, but I
must work.
Iloved this cousin dearly, but. his
indolent, easy life always Initiated
411O VIGIL i w CbO Cl1CO OuU WILL Ul0 CV-
erlasting scratching as he termed it.
I often found myself comparing his
life OF ease with my life OF toll. This
feeling had strong hold on me just
then, and said, somewhat sharply:
'To turn the question table, why
don'tyou quit this idle, good-for-noth-
ing life, and do something?"
'There is nothing that I can do,
positively nothing" and he yawned
as if the very mention OF work tired
him.
"Knock around and find some
thing"
"What's the use? Haven't I been
everywhere, and actually passed per-
feet martyrdom OF stage coaches and
railroads, at home and abroad. Why,
| even went to Fort Leavenworth,
hoping to find work there, and how
was it? the Indians made tracks when
they heard I was coming, and when
got there all was quiet and had moth
ing to do but come back here and tor
ment you, cousin mine"
"But Len"
"Now don't I know all you re going
to say. I ought to take more interest
in life, in politics, for instance, but for
the life Of me l never can tell which
man to 90 for. I ought, in short, to
be anything in the world but the lazy,
useless sinner that I am, bat can't,
so there's an end to it,
I abandoned the field, as always
did, silenced, but not convinced. [
knew so well the fund OF good under
lying this good nature that it grieved
me to the heart so see his talents,
education and master intellect rust
ing in his inert frame. Yet waited,
not very patiently, | must confess,
tor the enthusiasm that would rouse
all his dormant powers into action.
It came too soon.
"Merv., old boy" he said to me one
week later, as he lounged into nv
office, "don't you want to 60 South
in nv cOnnanv2''